Day 1: Arriva in San Cristobal - Lobos Island - Interpretation Center
You’ll arrive early in the morning to San Cristobal, the capital of the Galapagos. The first site will be Lobos Island, a very small islet made of volcanic rocks that gets its name from the colony of Sea Lions that live there. Here you can observe the behavior and interaction of Sea Lions living in a small community.
In the afternoon, you will pay a visit to the Interpretation Center in Puerto Baquerizo, the local branch of the Galapagos National Park Service, where your guide will explain the formation of the islands, how the flora and fauna arrived and were established in Galapagos, as well as visit the corrals where there are several species of giant tortoises under the care of the National Park Service.
Afterwards, you will continue to the visit to Cerro Tijeretas located at 2 km from Puerto Ayora, is the only one site that you can see 2 different kind of Fragatas living on the same colony.
Day 2: Santa Fe Island - South Plazas
After breakfast on the yacht, you’ll continue to Santa Fe Island. Upon arrival to the island, you’ll be treated to a noisy welcome from the local Sea Lion colony. Following your naturalist guide on the island paths you’ll reach Santa Fe's main attraction, a towering forest of giant cacti. Scattered around the cacti trees you’ll see a number of the island's indigenous sun-seekers: marine and land iguanas, the rainbow-streaked lava lizards and, if you’re lucky, land tortoises - the namesakes of the islands. After the walk you’ll dive into the salty sea and snorkel in the company of Sea Lions, Lion Fish and Sea Turtles.
After lunch, we’ll navigate to Plazas Island, where a large colony of Sea Lions lounge daily in the equatorial sun. Plaza also boasts excellent examples of typical Galapagos native flora such as the towering cacti "trees" that form the principal diet for both the Land Iguanas and the Cactus Finch. Other birds that may flutter by include Lava Gulls, Yellow Warblers and Red-Billed Tropic birds.
Day 3: Charles Darwin Station - Puerto Ayora
Your morning visit will be to Charles Darwin Station, a non-profit institution that dedicates itself to studying and protecting the flora and fauna of the Galapagos. This is one of the best places to see land tortoises, including Lonesome George, the last survivor of his subspecies. Then you’ll visit the station’s Tortoise Rearing Center. Here you can find baby, hand-sized tortoises, between the ages of one and five, and marvel at how they achieve such large sizes as adults (500 lbs. or more!).
Aside from the Station headquarters, Santa Cruz Island is home to the largest town and economic center of the Galapagos, Puerto Ayora. In this port-side town you can buy souvenirs (postcards, t-shirts, books, etc.) of the islands. After lunch, you will explore the upper region of the island and learn about the vegetation and animal life of the area. Return to town in the late afternoon and check out its night life while the boat is docked for most of this night.
Day 4: Volcano Sierra Negra, Humedales & Muro de las Lagrimas, Isabela Island
Your first visit in the morning will take place to Volcano Sierra Negra , will be a walk around 30 minutes to the lap of this famous volcano at Isabela Island. Volcano Sierra Negra is a large shield volcano at the South eastern end of Isabela Island in the Galapagos that rises to an altitude of 1124m. Also is considered one of the oldest Volcano at the Islands.
In the afternoon after lunch, you will go to visit the Humedales, which is a mangrove area with small brackish water lagoons that create the perfect environment for a small type of shrimp that serves as the food for the island’s flamingos.
Following this visit, you will be transported to El Muro de las Lagrimas or “The Wall of Tears.” When the Ecuadorian government first took possession of the islands their main purpose was to harbor Ecuadorian prisoners; since there wasn’t much for them to do they were forced to carry rocks to a far location and build a wall.
Day 5: Moreno Point & Elizabeth Bay, Isabela Island
After night navigation you’ll arrive to Moreno Point on the west coast of Isabela, a dry landing on a lava field. The vegetation found in this area is sparse and concentrated mainly in the mangrove area and around the lakes. It should be noted that the three kinds of cacti are found here. The main attractions at Moreno Point are the coastal lagoons amid black lava flows where there are several species of birds. Here you’ll have a panoramic view of three of the most active volcanoes in the Galapagos, which are Sierra Negra, Cerro Azul of Isabela Island and La Cumbre of Fernandina Island.
After lunch, you’ll continue on your way to Elizabeth Bay, located on Isabela Island`s west shore, which is an excellent spot for observing marine life. You’ll motor past a few islands where you can usually see Galapagos Penguins; this is one of the best areas to take their photos. A colony of these magnificent birds inhabit a rocky islet at the entrance to Elizabeth Bay. We’ll let our boat drift through a small passage lined with mangroves and eventually emerge into an enclosed cove. We’ll turn the motor off and look in the sheltered waters for Marine Turtles, Rays, Flightless Cormorants, Sea Lions, and, circling overhead, Galapagos Hawks.
Day 6: Tagus Cove, Espinosa Point & Vicente Roca Point, Isabela Island
The visitor’s site of Tagus Cove is located west of Darwin Volcano on Isabela Island. The entire distance of the trail is about 1800 meters. This was a favorite spot for pirates and whalers, and the tradition of inscribing the names of boats is a tradition still observed today.
Back on board for lunch and a short navigation to Elizabeth Bay on Fernandina Island and Espinosa Point is a narrow ledge of lava and sand that extends from the base of the volcano to the sea. Espinosa Point is a place famous for its large colonies of Marine Iguanas as well as being the habitat of unique species like the Flightless Cormorant, the Galapagos Penguin, the Galapagos Hawk, and the Galapagos Snake, among others. It’s an ideal place to observe the lava cactus (Brachycerus Nesioticus), which grow on young lava and survive with little water.
After visiting Fernandina, you will start the navigation to the central part of the Galapagos and on the way you’ll see Vicente Roca Pointa, a mostly eroded volcano which now is a great site for seeing Blue Footed Boobies, Frigate Birds and other marine birds from the boat.
Day 7: Egas Port - Rabida Island
James Bay (Egas Port) is a black sand beach located on the west side of James Bay and northwest of Santiago Island. South of the beach is Sugarloaf Volcano, which has deposits of volcanic tuff, the same that helped the formation of the black sand beach. El Cráter is just north of this site, it has a saltwater lagoon, which during the summer dry season becomes a salt mine. Between 1928 and 1930 was the first exploitation of salt; but the efforts did not last long. Then again in 1964 a new attempt was made that lasted for some time.
After lunch on board we’ll navigate to our next destination, Rabida Island consists of a red sand beach, a coastal lagoon behind the beach, and a loop trail. The approximate distance of the trail is 1.1km. The colour of the rocks and sand on the beach is due to the very porous volcanic material, which with the help of environmental factors (rain, salt water and sea breeze), has acted as an oxidizing agent. The main attraction of this spot is the red sand beach and scenery, aside from the vegetation of the arid zone and the presence of native and endemic species.
Day 8: North Seymour Island - Depart Baltra Airport
After an early breakfast, you’ll disembark at North Seymour Island. Here you will see Frigate Birds, the clownish Blue-Footed Booby, and of course the ubiquitous Sea Lions. With luck you’ll witness the striking courtship display of the male Frigate Bird, in which he inflates a red balloon-like sac below his throat and struts his stuff for all of the young females.
After lunch, you will be transferred to Baltra Airport onwards to your outbound flight home.
